Grid making machine



Aug. 30, 1949 w. l.. sHEFFlr-:LD

GRID MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet l F'iled Deo. 28, 1944 Aug. 30, 1949. w. sHEr-'FIELD GRID MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 \Q\w\ NQ k im o o mw w @Y s O N OV o o V J 1 w\N mshwl! v3 All@ 30, 1949' w. l.. sHEFFlELD 2,480,677

GRID MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 30, 1949. w. sHEFFlELD GRID MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 w, .f mw MQW, MZ. f /M #a www m QQ mw Aug. 30, 1949, w. SHEFFIELD 2,480,677

GRID MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo. 28, 1944 9 sheets-sheet 5 L o I 290 I 297 305 g4 36 302 299 Aug' 30, 1949- w. SHEFFIELD 2,480,677

GRID MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 /M/Wro/Y. /4//4 am L. J/ffff/a l y www;

Aug- 30, 1949 w. L. sHr-:FFIELD 2,480,677

GRID MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo. 28, 1944 9 sheets-sheet "r ml: um

Aug. 30, 1949 w. sHEl-'FIELD GRID MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 Aug. 30, 1949. w. sl-n-:FFIELD GRID MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Deo. 28, 1944 4f/7 M ,2 n n? 2 .22A M 24 ,m 2 an. W 2 m 2 l 2 2 a 0 0 3 2 9 92 2 2 z2 r /41/ A! m a a 3 22 a ,J 3 2 d /M/n/rof.

M. m f M ZKM/lll side rods in the Patented Aug. 30, 1949 l STATES andere GRID MAKING MACHINE Wilbur L. Sheffield, Auburndale, Mass., assignor to Raytheon Manufacturing Company,

Newton,

This invention relates to a novel grid making machine adapted for the manufacture of the wound-type of grid electrode as used in radio l tubes and other types charge devices.

. An object of this invention is to devise a machine which has suiiicient exibility of adjustment to enable grids of any desired pitch to be produced by simple adjustments.

Another object is to devise such a machine` in which any predetermined number of grid turns of electrical space dismay be wound automatically Within an accuracy of a small fraction of a single turn.

A further object is to improve and simplify various portions of such a grid machine so as to increase the reliability as well as the flexibility of the machine an operator in operating the machine.

The foregoing and other objects of this inven-v tion will be best understood from the following description of an exemplication thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the head casing taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the head casing and adjacent portions taken along line 6 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken substantially along line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section of an over-running clutch taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the grid wire lead-in and winding arbor mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section through the grid process of forming a grid Fig. 9 is a top View of the grid Winding mechanism and adjacent portions of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a section taken along line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9 with certain portions broken away to disclose underlying structure;

Fig. 11 is a partial section taken along line II II of Fig. 9:

Fig.'12 is an enlarged cross-section of the central casing taken along line I'2 I2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section of an upper portion of said central casing taken along line I3' I 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a view of a releasable gear arrangement within the central casing for disengaging the cam shaft from the jack shaft:v

Fig. 15 is an enlarged crosssection taken suband to decrease the skill required of stantially along line it-I5 of Fig. 2 showing a change speed arrangement for the swage cam shaft;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged View of the side rod 5 clamping device with portions broken away to disclose underlying parts: l Fig. 17 is an enlarged side view of the mechanism at the end of the draw shaft as viewed from the rear of Fig. l;

Fig. 18 is a section taken substantially along line i8 l8 of Fig. 17 with the limit switch removed for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 19 is a cross-section through the end casing taken substantially along line i Q IS of Fig. l;

Fig. 20 is a section of said end casing taken substantially along line 0 2@ of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an end view of the end casing as viewed from the right of Fig. 1 showing the change gear arrangement for the grid pullout 20 drive; and

Fig. 22 is a diagram of the electrical circuits of the machine.

designated by the numerals 8 and 9, are guided byl rollers i0 into the interior of a hollow shaft II. In order that the proper tension may be exerted on the side rods`8 and 9 during the feed thereof, braking springs 6' andV I are provided on theyoke 5 a block i0' clamped to the end of said shaft II. The shaft I I is rotatably mounted ina bearing I I carried by the bracket d.

One end of the yoke 5 is likewise clamped to said shaft I'I so as toprovide the rotatable support o1' the yoke 5 by the bracket 4 already mentioned above. As the shaft II emerges from the bracket 4 it is keyed to a head coupling sleeve I2upon which is mounted a hand wheel I3 so that said coupling member I2 and the shafts connected to it may be turned over by hand if desired. The coupling sleeve 'I2 is shaft I B whereby it couples said drive hollow shaft II. The drive shaft shaft to the I8 carries a also connected to a drive andere counter drive sprocket I4 driving a counter 'chain I'5 which in turn drives a lead counter I6y (Fig. 2) and a total turn counter I1 as more fully described and claimed in my copending application, Serial 110,536,190, filed May 18. 1944. for Driving and counting systems, now Patent No. 2,415,854, dated February 18, 194'1. i

The drive shaft I8 is rotatably mounted in a bearing I8 carried by the face plate I9 of a head casing and also by a bearing 2| carried by the back wall of said head casing (Fig. 4). The head casing is suitably supported on the bed plate I'. The drive shaft I8 is also hollow so as to permit the grid side rods 8 and 3 to pass through it to an arbor 22 formed on the outer end of an arbor shank 23, removably secured in the outer end of the drive shaft I8. The arbor shank is formed with grooves on opposite sides thereof so that the side rods 8 and 9 may extend therethrough and lie along opposite sides ofthe arbor 22. The arbor shank 23 is held in place by a nut 24 threaded onto the outer end of the drive shaft I8. This nut 24 forces a slotted collet 25 into a tapered bushing 26 thus clamping the collet 25 around a sleeve 23' which is rigidly secured to the arbor block 23. In this way the arbor and arbor block are automatically centered in the end of the shaft I8 and removably yet rigidly secured thereto.

- the shaft 33, said pulley carries one element 34 of a magnetic clutch, the other element 35 thereof being directly mounted on the shaft 33. The magnetic clutch 34-35 may be energized from a pair of leads 35 connected to a brush and slipring arrangement 31 likewise carried by the shaft 33. Also directly fastened to the shaft 33 is a sprocket 38 which drives a chain belt 39 which in turn engages and drives a sprocket 48 (Fig. 4). The sprocket 40 is provided with an interior bushing in which the drive shaft I8 is journalled. In this way the sprocket 40 and the elements connected thereto can rotate freely about the drive shaft I8 unless coupled thereto by a suitable clutch mechanism. Rlgidly secured to the sprocket 40 is a sprocket 42 driving a chain`43 which drives a counter reset shaft 44 (Fig. 2) for the counters I6 and I1 so as to reset said counters to zero at the end of a winding operation in accordance with the detailed description as contained in my copending application, Serial No. 536,190, referred to above.

A clutch generally designated as 45 is provided for causing the sprocket 40 to drive the shaft I8. The details of this clutch are shown in Figs, 3, 4 and 5. Rigidly connected to the sprocket 40 is a cam 46 (Fig. 5) which during the driving period is adapted to engage with a pawl 41 pivoted by a pin 48 to a driving plate 49 fastened to the shaft I8. The cam 46 is provided with a shoulder 56 which during the driving period engages a corresponding shoulder 5I on the pawl 41. A spring 52 fastened to the back face of the driving plate 43 engages a pin 53 which projects through a slot 54 in said plate 49 and is fastened to the pawl 41. In this way the spring 52 biases the pawl 41 ytoward its position of engagement with the cam 46.

In order to disengage the pawl 41 from the cam 48, there is provided a stop rod 55 having a shoulder 58 which when moved toward the cam 46 engages the nose of the pawl 41, thus moving said pawl out of engagement with the cam 45 and holding said pawl thus disengaged. The stop rod 55 is adapted to be moved into its stop position by a link 51 pivoted at its upper end to a bracket I9' secured to the face plate I8 (Fig. 4) of the head casing 28. Said link 51 is also pivoted in an intermediate point to the stop rod 55. The lower end of the link 51 is pivoted to one end of a clutch-actuating rod 58 which is biased toward its stop position by means of a spring 58. The stop mechanism, including the stop rod 55, is adapted to be held in the running position by means of a latch pivoted at pivot point 6I to the bed plate I. The latch 60 carries a fulcrum arm 62 pivoted to one end of an armature 63 adapted to be actuated by an electromagnetic coil 54. The armature 63 is adapted to be biased to its outer position by means 'of a spring 65.

For purposes of control to be described below, there is also associated with the stop mechanism a switch 66 provided with a reset button 61 biased outwardly from the switch by a spring 68. The button 61 is engaged by the link 51 in its running position and thus the spring 68 is prevented from moving the button 61 outwardly from the switch 68. The switch 66 is of a wellknown type in which the switch opens if the but'- ton 61 is moved outwardly therefrom Aby the spring 68. In this well-known type of switch, when a spring member 69 is pushed inwardly, the switch 66 recloses, provided that at that time the reset button 61 is also moved inwardly against the actionof the biasing spring 68. The spring member 69 is adapted to be actuated by a switch-closing rod 18, which when moved inwardly against the action of the spring member 89 is adapted to reclose the switch 66 providing reset button 61 is held depressed by link 51. The spring member 69 also biases the rod 'I0 toward the edge of the driving plate 49, and thus the inner end of said rod 1I! engages and rides on the edge of said driving plate. The driving plate 49 is provided with a cam projection 1I which is thus adapted to force the rod 10 inwardly against the action of the spring member 59 so as to reclose the switch 66.

It will be noted that when the nose of the pawl 41 engages the shoulder 56 so as to stop the rotation of the shaft I8, the action of the spring 52 exerts a pressure on the pawl 41 tending to rotate it together with its driving plate 43 in a reversed direction. Since it is desirable to stop the shaft I8 in a definite predetermined position without any appreciable reversal of its rotation, there is provided a stop mechanism to prevent such reverse rotation. For this purpose the driving plate 49 is provided with a clutch plate 12 adapted to rotate inside a stop race 13 fixed to the face plate I9 of the casing 20. The clutch plate 12 is provided with one or more cut-away portions I4 each of which receives a roller 15. Each roller 15 is engaged by a spring biased pin 16 tending to move the roller 15 into engagement with the stop race 13. If the driving plate 48 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, the rollers 15 are disengaged from the stop race 13 and thus permit the driving plate 53 together with the shaft I8 to rotate freely. Ii',

however, the driving plate 49 tends to rotate in move vertically in the cuttergrani-I and is prea. clockwise direction, the rollers 15 will bind vented from rotating therein byfmeans of a. key against the stop race 13. prevent such rotation 93' held in notches 95' in the-ramt and having and lock the plate 49 and the shaft I8 in their a portion projecting into a key-way 91 formed stopped position. The clutch-actuating rod 58 5 longitudinally on the stud screw s4. said stud may be providedwitha suitable handle '|1'so that screw may be adjusted and retained in its adthe operator may manually reengage the clutch justed position by means of a pair of nuts 98 and once it has been disengaged under conditions 99 threaded onto the stud screw 94 and bearing which will be described below. respectively upon the upper and lower surfaces of Under certain conditions of operation it is delo the ram 93. sired that the shaft as well as the counter reset As the arbor 22 is rotated by the shaft I8, it

Shaft 44 (Fig. 4) be rotated at a reduced Speedcarries with it the side rods 8 and 9.and forces I For this purpose the motor 21 (Fig. 1) also drives them successivelyl against the cutting edge of the a. speed reducing gear mechanism 18, the output cutter 90 so as to form the notches 9| (Fig. 8) pulley 19 of which drives a belt 80. The belt 80 i5 in said side rods. The vertical adjustment for in turn drives a pulley 8| mounted on the casing the cutter 90, as described above,vis provided for member 82 of an overrunning clutch 83, the inthe purpose of accommodating any desired diternal structure of which is Shown in Fig. 6. The ameter of grid structure. The diameter of the casing member 82 is provided with an cuter race grid structure is determined primarily by the size 84 within which rotates a clutch inner race 85 20 of the arbor 22 which may'readily be replaced in fastened to the shaft 33. The edge of the clutch the machine due to the arbor supporting mechnner race 85 is machined oi to provide a pluanism as described above.

rality of nat surfaces 86 each substantially at The machine is also adapted to produce any right angles to a radial line from the center of desired pitch of the winding. on the side rods. In

said clutch race, each extending completely across 15 order to form the notches 9| at the proper locaits respective portion of said clutch race. At the tion with respect to a taper provided on the windcenter of each surface 86 there is provided a ing arbor to control the minor diameter of ellipspring biased assembly consisting of a pair of leaf tically shaped grids, it is also desirable to adjust springs 81 set into. a recess provided in the surthe position of the cutter 90 along the machine. face 86. A roller 88 is inserted at one side of each fm For this purpose the ram 93 is carried by a plate of the spring biased assemblies. Thus, if the |00 formed with two dovetailed portions |0| casing 82 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed fitting into a, correspondingly formed slide seein Fig. 6, the rollers 88 will bind against the outer tion in the top of the casing 20. In this way the `race surface 84 and thus drive the clutch inner plate |00 is permitted to slide along the top ofthe As shown more clearly in Figs. 9 and 10, the cutter winding wire directly into the not disc 90 is rotatably supported in a cutter yoke 7o by the cutter 90,

race 85 and the shaft 33. If, however, an attempt H casing 20 but is eiectively prevented from twistis made to drive the shaft 33 in a clockwise direcing therein. In order accurately to adjust the tion as viewed in Fig. 6. the rollers 83 Will be diS- position of the plate |00, a stud |02 is mounted in engaged from the race surface 88 and the shaft 33 the top of the easing 20 and projects through an can rotate freely Without driving the casing 32. elongated slot |03 in the plate |00. An adjusting This overrunning clutch action iS obtained so that "i screw |04 is threaded into the central portion of as lone as the magnetic clutch 34-35 is disen the stud m2. The adjusting screw |04 is rogaged, the motor 2" Will dIVe the Shaft 33 at a tatably carried by a plate |05 secured to the back low speed and when the magnetic clutch 34-35 iS end of the plate |00. The adjusting screw |04 energized, the overrunning clutch 83 permits the may also bel provided with a knurled adjusting motor 21 to drive the shaft 33 at a substantially is head |06 so that by rotation thereof the position higher speed through the higher speedA idler pulley of the arm 00 is accurately adjusted on the cas- 30. ing 20. The plate |00 is also adapted to be In the construction of the overrunning clutch clamped into position by means of a clamping nut 83 it will be noted that the rollers 88 may be inand bolt arrangement |01. serted on either side of the biasing springs 81. .in After the notches 9| have been cut into the In some instances it may be desired that the side rods 8 and 9, the winding wire 89 is laid in rotation of the entire assembly be reversed. In these notches and wound around the side rods to this case all that is necessary is to remove the form the grid. A supply of the winding wire 89 face 'plate from the overrunning clutch 83 and is carried by a spool |08 rotatably mounted on the move the rollers 88 from one side to the other .35 side of the be'd plate Inorder to maintain the of the springs 87. This provides a simple and proper tension on the winding wire 89 during the eiective overrunning clutch arrangement capable feed thereof, a braking spring |08 is provided on of providing overrunning clutch action in alterthe bed plate to bear frictionally against the native directions. y hub of spool |08. yAs the winding wire 89 comes Cutting, winding and swaying mechanism 60 from the spool |08 it passes under a guide roller As the side rods B and 9 pass along the Sides of t a stud (see Fig. 7) which is provided with a the arbor 22, a grid Winding Wire 39 is Wound spring for biasing the roller |09 downwardly thelBOll and Secured t0 Said Side IOdS l'l Order t0 S0 as to apply a, Certain amount 0f tension to said form the grid. For the purpose of ysecuring the o5 winding wire. After the winding wire 89 leaves winding wire to the side rods. a cutter dise 90 the guide roller |09 it passes over a lead-in guide having acutting edge forms a. plurality of notches roller ||2 and across the face of a lead-in plate 9| in the side rods 8 and 9 as indicated in Fig. 8. I3 which is accurately located so as to guide the ches 9| formed 92 which is carried by and vertically adjustable The lead-in guide rollerv||2 is rotatably supin a. cutter vram 93. In order to support the cutter ported on an arm I4 which is pivoted at the outer yoke 92, it is mounted in the lower end of a stud end of a bracket H5 which is adjustably clamped screw 94 and firmly clamped therein by means of around an insulating sleeve ||6 (see Fig. 10)

-adraw bolt 95. The stud screw 94 is adapted to 75 The arm ||4 may be biased outwardly hv meen@ 7 of a biasing spring ||4' so as to assist'in maintaining proper tension on the winding wire 89. The sleeve ||6 is tightly mounted on a standard I1. The lead-in plate ||3 is mounted on an arm ||8 which is likewise clamped about the insulating sleeve ||6. The arm I8 may be placed in any desired orientation about the sleeve ||6 by means of a clamping screw ||9 Awhich when loosened permits the arm I |8to be rotated about the sleeve I i andv which when clamped rigidly secures said arm in its desired orientation. The adjustment of the bracket ||5 is carried out in a similar manner. The clamping of the bracket ||5 and the arm ||8 on the sleeve |I6 assist in retaining said sleeve tight on the standard ||1. The standard is screw-threaded into the top of a lead-in carriage and kept from rotating therein by means of a set screw 2 l. The carriage |20 is provided with a pair of dovetailed sections |22 setting into a correspondingly formed block` |23 rigidly secured to the upper surface of the bed plate I. In this way the carriage |23 can be slid along the block |23 and is prevented from rotating thereon. The position of the carriage may be accurately adjusted by means of an adi justing screw |24 screw-threaded into a projection |25 formed on the block |23. The opposite end of the adjusting screw |24 is rotatably supported by a projection |26 formed on the carriage |20. The adjusting screw |24 may likewise be provided with a knurled adjusting head |21. Since the position at which the winding wire 89 is led in must be accurately predetermined, it is desirable to provide an indicating member |28 mounted on the projection |26 and cooperating with the knurled head |21 to indicate .the degree of adjustment of the adjusting screw |24. The carriage |20 may be clamped in its adjusting position by means 'of a clamping rod |25 projecting through thc interior of the standard I I1 and having an enlarged head |30, which head forced against the upper surface of the block |23 clamps the carriage |20 int-o position. In order to accomplish this a clamping screw |3| is threaded into the top oi the standard ||1 so as to engage the upper end of the rod |29 forcing the head |36 into clamping engagement with the block |23.

In many instances the winding wire 39 is very fine and relatively fragile so that danger of breaking the wire exists. Whenever the wire breaks it is desirable that the machine be stopped as quickly as possible. The arrangement whereby the arms ||4 and II 8 are insulated from the rest of the machine by the insulating sleeve H6 enables a simple and effective stop arrangement to be produced. For this purpose a conductor |32 is electrically connected to the carriage |20 by a connecting screw |33. Another conductor |34 is connected to the arm I|8 by means of the clamping screw IIS. If a voltage is connected between the conductors 32 and |34, it will be seen that a circuit is provided from the conductor |34 through the winding wire 89 back to the frame of the machine either through the arbor 22 or through the lead-in roller |09. The frame of the machine of course has the potential of the conductor |32. Thus any breakage of the winding wire 89 will interrupt the circuit and by a relay arrangement to be described below this circuit interruption will stop the operation of the machine.

After the winding wire 89 has been-laid in the notches 9|, it is swaged in place (see Fig. 8). The side rods 8 and 9 are pulled through the machine by means of a feeding mechanism to be described below. As the side rods advance beyond the position in which the winding wire 53 is laid in the notches 9D, said side rods are driven against the edge of a swaging disc |35. In this way the swage |35 forces the metal or the side rods 8 and 9 around the winding wire 89 as indicated in Fig. 8 so as firmly to retain said winding wire in position. The swaging disc |35 is r0- tatably mounted in a swaging yoke |35 (see Fig. 10) retained in place at the outer end of a lever arm |31. The yoke |36 is supported by a stud screw |38 and retained therein by a draw bolt |39 in a similar manner to that in which the cutter yoke 92 is retained in its stud screw 94. The stud screw |38 is non-rotatably located in the lever arm |31 by means of a set screw |45. The lever arm |31 is mounted at its inner end on an internally threaded hub |4| which receives a threaded shaft |42. The opposite ends of the shaft |42 are rotatably supported by a pair of pivot points |43 and |44 (see Fig. 4). The pivot point |43 is mounted in a pivot bracket |45 and the pivot point |44 is mounted on the rear face of the casing 20. The shaft |42 is provided with a knurled head |46 whereby said shaft may be rotated so as to adjust the position of the hub |4I and its lever arm |31 along the direction of travel of the grid" through the machine. This adjustment is for the purpose of enabling the swage to be accurately aligned with the notches 9| for various pitches of grid winding. Since this adjustment must be made very accurately, an indicator |41 is mounted on the bracket -|45 and cooperates with a scale on the knurled head |46 so as to accurately indicate the degree of adjustment vof the threaded shaft |42. A set screw |48 is provided so as to lock the hub I4i and its lever arm |31 in their adjusted position.

The hub |4| has also secured thereto a bell crank arm |49. A tension spring |50`is connected at one end to the bell crank arm |49 and at the other end to a tension rod |5| which passes through a block |52 mounted on the bed yplate I. The rod |5| is threaded at its outer end upon which is received an adjusting nut |53 bearing against the outer surface of the block |52 whereby the positionA of the rod I5| may be adjusted to regulate the tension on the spring |50. This tension tends to rotate the lever arm |31 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10 so as to urge the swage |35 toward the arbor 22. Since it is desirable for the swaging action to be of a limited depth on the rods 8 and 9, a stop screw |54 mounted in a bracket |55 on the casing 20 engages an intermediate point on the lever arm |31. The stop screw |54 is adjustable so as to regulate the depth of the swaging action. Said adjustment also takes care of varying diameters for the grids which are made upon the machine.

Each individual grid made upon the machine is intended to have a predetermined number of turns of winding wire 89 thereon. The machine is adapted lto make a plurality of such grids in a single operation. It is desirable that the above predetermined number of turns im` each grid be spaced from each other by a predetermined length of the side rods 8 and 9 and through this predetermined length it is desirable that the winding wire 89 be left loose in the notches 5| and not swaged into place. For this purpose the machine is provided with an arrangement for retracting the swage |35 out of swaging position as said predetermined length of the side rods -passes the swage. For the above purpose a roller |55 is secured to the outer end ofthe bell crank arm |45 9 in a position to be engaged by a cam |51 mounted upon a cam shaft |68. The cam shaft |51 is provided with circular cam surfaces .|59 which are adapted to engage the roller |58 and thereby move the bell crank arm |49 against the action of the spring |80 so as to rotate the lever arm |31 about its pivot 'points |49 and |44 to a sulcient extent to move the swage |35 out of swaging engagement with the side rods 8 and 9. -Thecam |91 and its cam surfaces |59 are made in two relatively adjustable parts which may be clamped 'in adjusted position by means of a clamping bolt |90. In this way the period of time during which the swage |95 is thus retracted during eachrotation of the cam shaft |58 may be adjusted.

VThe cam shaft |88 is driven'in synchronism with the arbor 22 although in various predetermined speed relationships therewith. `For this purpose the drive shaft |8 carries a gear |8| (see face plate |69 and the rear wall of said casing |88.

Within the casing |88 the jack shaft |83 drives the camshaft |58 through a releasable gear arrangement, the action of which is shown more clearly in Fig. 14. This releasable gear arrangement consists of a pinion gear |18 carried by the jack shaft |89 and meshing with a larger gear 1| mounted on a pivot |12 carried at the outer end of a pivot arm |13. 'I'he pivot arm V|13 is rotatably mounted on the jack shaft |89 andis adjustable within a limited arc around said jack shaft by means'of a threadedv extension |14 (see Fig. 13) which projects through a slot |15 in the face plate |69 and is clamped in its adjusted position by means of a clamping nut arrangement |18. Also secured to the largegear |1| is a release pinion |11 which in-` the full line position of adjustment as illustrated in Fig. 14 engages with a cam gear |18 mounted upon and driving an intermediate cam shaft |19. The intermediate cam shaft |19 is suitably mounted in bearings |80 and |8| mounted respectively in the face plate |89 and the rear wall of casing |66 (see Fig. 13).

Thus when the releasable gear arrangement is in the full line position of Fig. 14, the jack shaft |83- drives the intermediate gear shaft |19. When,

'- (Fig. 15).

l0 intermediate cam shaft |85 is held in any desired orientation around said shaft |19 within a predetermined arc by. means of a slot |88 and a cooperating clamping nut arrangement |81. The change gear pinion |84 meshes with a cam drive gear |88 which is secured to and drives` the cam shaft |58. 'Ihe cam shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings |89 and |90 carried, respectively, by the face plate |89 and the rear wall of the casing |88 (Fig. 12).

The above change speed arrangement permits a "large number of definite speed relationships to be established between the rotation of the arbor 22 and the retraction of the substituting various sizes of change gearipinion |89 in swage |85 merely by change gear |83 and the above gear train Due to the positive gear drive the movement of the swage |35 is synchronized with the movement of the arbor 22 and also substantially any desired combination of swaged and unswaged turns may be secured along the side rods 8 and 9.

however, the clamping nut |18 is released and the gear arrangement of Fig. 14 is moved to the dotted line position, the jack shaft |83 is released from and no longer drives the intermediate cam shaft |19. As will be pointed out below, the intermediate cam shaft shaft |58 and thus releasing the jack shaft |83 from the intermediatevcam shaft |19 interrupts the drive of the cam shaft |58. Under these latter conditions, the cam shaft|58 remains stationary substantially in the position as indicated in Fig. 10 and all of the turns of the winding wire 89 are swaged to the side rods 8 and 9 throughout the operation of the machine.

The intermediate cam shaft I 19 projects from the rear face of the casing |88 and carries a pinion gear |82 forming part of a change speed arrangement as illustrated more clearly in Fig.

|83 secured to a change gear pinion |84, both of |19 drives the main cam Pull feed mechanism ends of the side rods 8 and 9 as said side rods come from the grid-forming position. The clamp |9| is mounted at the outer end lof a draw shaft |92. The detailed structure of the clamp |9| is shown most clearly in Figs. '1 and 16. The clamp consists of a block |93 retained in place in the end of the draw shaft |92 by means of a set screw |94. The block |93 is formed with a pair of pro- Jecting side arms |95 between which is pivoted a pair of clamping levers |98 pivoted at points |91 near the outer ends of the side armsll95. The clamping levers |96 are provided at their outer ends with a pair of clamping jaws |98. A spring |99 tends to bias said jaws to their opened position. A clamping cam member 208 is rotatably mounted in the side arms |95 between the inner ends of the clamping levers |96. Upon rotation of the cam 200 by means of Ia clamping link 20|, said cam forces the inner ends of the levers |98 apart and thus clamps the'rjaws |98 onto the side rods 8 and 9. This clamping action may be adjusted for various sizes of side rods 8 and 9 by adjusting bolts 202 carried by the levers |98 and bearing at their inner ends upon the cam 200. The rear surface 209 of the link 20| is adapted in its locking position to engage against a locking surface 204 on the block |93 so as to retain the clamp in its clamping position.

In order to prevent any twisting of the side rods 8 and 9, the draw shaft |92 is rotated in exact synchronism with the -arbor 22. For this purpose the shaft 92 extends through the casing |88 and is ournalled therein by suitable bearings 205 and 206 carried, respectively, by the face plate which are rotatably and releasably mounted on f a segment arm- |rotatably mounted around the |69 and the rear wall of said-casing |86, as shown in Fig. 12. 'I'he shaft |92 is free to rotate in said bearings, as Well as to slide longitudinally therethrough. Also carried by the bearings 205 and 208 and mounted around the shaft |92 is a driving sleeve 201; The draw shaft |92 is likewise `free to slide through said sleeve 281, but is non-rotatably connected thereto by means of--a key 208 fastened to the sleeve 201 and projecting into an elongated keyway 209 formed on the draw shaft |92. The sleeve 201 is driven directly from the jack-shaft |83 by means of a pair of gears 2|0 l |19. The segment arm` and the jack-shaft I 63. The gearing I6|I62 (Fig. 3) between the drive shaft |8 and the jackshaft |63 constitutes a one-to-one speed -relationship as does the gearing ZIB-2H (Fig. 12) between the jack-shaft |63 and the sleeve 201. Thus it will be seen that the draw shaft |92 is driven in absolute synchronism with the arbor 22 thereby avoiding any possibility of twisting the side rods 6 and 9.

As the draw shaft |92 extends beyond the center casing |66 it terminates in a draw head 2|2 to which is secured a steel draw tape 2|3 for the purpose of pulling the shaft |92 along the machine at the desired rate. As shown, most clearly in Figs. 17 and 18, the outer end of the draw shaft |92 is steadied by having the draw -head 2|2 ride upon a track member 2 I4 secured to the bed plate l. The draw head 2|2 is provided internally with a suitable bearing structure so that the draw shaft |92 may rotate freely within said draw head, but nevertheless be nrmly retained against any relative longitudinal motion with respect thereto.

The draw tape 2|3 passes over a guide roller 2|5 into the interior of a draw casing 2|6 (Figs. 19-20) where the outer end of said tape is secured to the outer surface of a ring 2 1. This ring which is of a simple circular shape is securely fastened by means of bolts 2 |8 between two plates 2|S and 22B rotatably mounted by means of ball-bearings 22| around an inner clutch disc 222. The inner surface of the ring 2|1 is adapted to cooperate as an outer clutch race with said clutch disc 222. The edge of the clutch disc 222 is machined off to provide a plurality of flat surfaces 223 each substantially at right angles to the radius of said clutch disc" and each extending completely across its respective portion of said clutch disc. At the center of each surface 223 there is provided a leafspring 224 set into a recess provided in the surface 223. A roller 225 is inserted on one side of each of said leaf-springs. Thus, normally when the clutch disc 222 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 20, the rollers 225 will bind against the inner surface of the ring 2|1 and thus drive said ring 2|1 in a clockwise direction. lThis will cause the `steel tape 2|3 to be pulled by the ring 2|1, thus winding it upon the surface of said ring and pulling the draw rod |92 along the machine at a rate dependent upon the peripheral speed of the ring 2|1.

In order to drive the clutch disc 222 in said clockwise direction, said disc is rigidly secured to a shaft 226 rotatably supported in bearings 221 and 228 mounted respectively in blocks 229 and 23B carried by the draw casing 2|6. Mounted upon the shaft 226 is a worm gear 23| adapted to be driven by a worm 232 carried by a shaft 233 journalled in the upper portion of the casing 2|6.

The jack-shaft 163, which also extendsfrom the central casing |66 into the draw casing 2 6, is also adapted to drive the shaft 233 through a suitable speed change gearing arrangement. This speed change arrangement is shown most clearly in Figs. 19, 20 and 21. The jack-shaft |63 is journalled A in the casing 2|S by means of bearings 234 and 235. The outer end of the jack-shaft |63 carries a pinion 236 which is adapted to engage a change gear 231 adjustably and removably mounted along a segment arm 238, rotatably mounted about the end of the jack-shaft |63. The segment arm 238 may 'be adjusted through a limited arc and clamped-in adjusted position by means of a slot 239 and clamping nut arrangement 24|). The change gear 231 carries a change gear pinioi- 24| which engages with an intermediate geni 242 1'9- 12 tatably carried by the rear wall of the casing 2|6. The intermediate gear 242 carries an intermediate pinion 243 which engages and drives a gear 244 secured to the shaft 233. In this way the lackshaft |63 drives the shaft 233 which in turn drives the ring 2|1. through the intermediary of the worm 232 and worm gear 23|. By properly selecting various sizes of change gear 231 and change gear pinion 24| a large number of definite speed relationships may be established between the jack-shaft |63 and the shaft 226.

It will be seen that the pitch of the winding wire 69 upon the side rods 6 and 8 is dependent upon the ratio between the speed at which the steel tape 2|3 draws the draw shaft |92 along the machine and the speed at which the arbor 22 rotates. Despite the fact that the change speed arrangement included in the drive of the steel tape 2|3 enables a relatively large number of changes in the above ratio to be made, never- 'theless change speed gears are available commercially only in a predetermined number of sizes so that in absence of some additional adjustment the above ratio could be changed only by definite and discrete steps. In the design of electrical space discharge devices, it is often desirable to select a pitch for the grid which does not correspond exactly to the pitch which the usual change gear arrangement affords. Thus the limitation of machines using change gear arrangements has heretofore imposed a limitation upon the design of such space discharge tubes. The present machine affords a simple and inexpensive means for securing any desired pitch of the grid. As has been previously indicated, the speed at which the tape 2|3 travels is dependent upon the peripheral speed of the ring 2|1. With any given speed of the shaft 226, the peripheral speed of the ring 2|1 may be changed merely by changing the outside diameter of said ring. Thus, if a particular grid pitch is desired, the change gear which most closely results in such a pitch is selected. The exact outer diameter of the ring 2|1 to produce the exact desired pitch can then readily be determined. Since the ring 2|1 is of such a simple shape it can readily be turned out on a lathe in a minimum of time and with a minimum of operator skill. Once the ring 2|1 is made, it is assembled in the machine whereupon it causes the machine to produce the exact desired pitch of grid.

As will be described below, when a predeter mined number of turns have been wound upon the side rods 8 and 9, the counters i6 and i1 complete a circuit which energizes the electromagnetic coil 64 to release the latch 66 causing the spring 59 to disengage the clutch 45. Under these conditions the drive shaft |8 is stopped and locked in a predetermined position which thus likewise holds the Jack-shaft |63 stationary. This in turn stops the rotation of all the elements driven by the jackshaft |63 including the shaft 226 carrying the clutch disc 222. To guard against: improper setting or operation of the counters I6 and i1, the machine is provided with a safety limit switch 245 mounted upon the track 2 I4 and having an actuating member 246 adapted to be engaged by the draw head 2|2 in the maximum desired limit of its travel. When the actuating member 256 is engaged by the draw head 2|2y the Hmit switch 245 is adapted to break the circuit between a pair of conductors 241 which are connected in a stop circuit which will be described below. This stop circuit acts to deenergize the entire system including the driving motor a shaft journalled in the block knives 228 and 269 normally supported on oppositesides of the arbor sucient distance 22 and spaced therefrom a to allow the wound side rods 8 and 9 to pass freely between them. The knives 296 and 229 are carried, respectively, by arms 288 and 251 pivoted by pivot points 252 and 252 (see Fig. 2) to the top of a block 252. A guide plate 255 also supported in the top of said block 282 engages intermediate points on the arms 259 and to hold said arms down and prevent them from springing up out of position. Actuating links 256 and 251 are pivoted at one end to the arms 256 and 251,'respectiv The other ends of said links are pivoted to an actuating disc 258 supported on a shaft rotatably mounted within the block 252. Secured to the disc 258 is a pinion 259 meshing with a gear 268 likewise carried by 25. The gear 268 is adapted to be rotated by an arm-26| provided with an actuating handle 262. `'I'hus when the operator wishes to cut oil and 9 he rotates the arm 26| in a clockwise direction. as viewed in Fig. 9. Through the action of the gears 288 and 259 this in turn rotates the plate 268 in a counter-clockwise direction causing the links 256 and` 251 to draw the arms'258 and 26| toward each other and in this way the knives `248 and 299 are forced into cuttingl engagement with the wound side rods 8 and 9, resulting in severing of said side rods.

After the wound side rods have been released from the machine, it is desirable thatthe draw shaft |92 be returned toits initial position so as to allow the clamp 19| to seize the next section o! side rods 8 and 9 to be drawn through the machine. For this purpose a return steel tape 263 is secured to the lower face of the draw head 212. Said steel tape 263 extends 'toward the left of the machine, as viewed in Figs. ,1, 17 and v18, over a guide roller 264 mounted on the side of the track 21d and then back again over another guide roller 265 likewise mounted on said track. The steel its lower end a weight within an air cylinder 26,1 supported on the supporting frame 2. The rate at which the weight 266 drops in the cylinder 261 is determined by an agr release valve 268 at the bottom of the cylinder 2 1.

vBefore the tane 263 can pull the draw shaft |92 tack towards its mma.: position, the durch :use

vided with a reduced sectionand an enlarged sec-` tion connected by a disengaging clutch section 21|. When the reduced section of the rod 2161s held adjacent the inner ends of the .pins 269, said pins are retracted to a position which permits the the wound side rods 8 'rollers 22s to bind whenjthe operator desires to ld y the clutch disc 222 to the ring 211. If, however,.the rod -219 is moved so as 'to force the cam section 21| between the inner ends of the pins 269, then said pins will be forced outwardly and will move the rollers 225 out of locking engagement with the inner surface of the ring 211, thus permitting the clutch disc 222 to rotate freely within said ring. Normally the rod 219'.

is held with its reducedsection adjacent the inner ends of the pins 212 received within a recess in the block 229 and engaging the inner surface of a piston head 218 formed on the rod 218. The piston head 213 slides in a cylinder 21d received within the Vblock 228. Air or other uid pressure is adapted to be introduced against the outer surface of the piston head 213 by'means of a fluid pressure pipe 218 feeding through a cylinder head 216 secured to a face plate 211 on the casing 216, said face plate also carrying the block 229. The cylinder head 216 closes the outer end of the cylinder 213. Fluid pressure is'introduced into the pipe 215 by'means of a suitable tting 212 actuated by a foot lever 21S under the control of the operator. Thus, return the draw shaft |92 to its initial position he depresses the foot lever 219 emitting fluid pressure through the pipe 215 tothe piston head 213 which releases the clutch,` as described above. Thereupon the weight 266 pulls the draw shaft 192 towards its initial position, as described above. In order tha\ the draw shaft |92 shall stop in a predetermined directly to the local When the desired limit of -lines to three motor position, the face plate 211 and the plate 219 carries a carries a stop 211' cooperating stop 2|9'. travel is reached the stop 219' engages the stop 211' and thus further travel of the draw shaft 92 is prevented.;-, When. the predetermined position 'is reached the operator releases the foot lever 219 which likewise releases the `iiuid pressure from the pipe 215 permitting the clutch 222-2I1 to be reset into a condition whereby the clutch plate 222 may again drive the ring 2|1.

Electrical circuit The electrical circuit of the machine is illustrated in Fig. 22. A threeephase supply line 289 is adapted to beconnected by means of a switch 28| to three local supply lines 282,' 283 and 284. A relay 285 is adapted to connect said local supply relay 285 is actuated the motor 21 is set in rotation. The relay 285 lis provided with an actuating coil 289, the circuit for which extends between the control circuit lines 298 and 29| connected supply lines 283 and 284. The energizing circuit for. the coil 289 extends from the line 296 through the coil 289, contacts 292 of a cut-oir relay 293, a conductor 241 leading through the unitswitch 245, a, stop switch 294 and a starting switch 295 to the control circuit line 269 by means of a biasing spring feed lines 286, 281 and 286 leading directly to the motor 21 so that when said` desde?? l5 which the actuating coil 2 is supplied with current only ii the circuit is completed through the winding wire 89.

The lead counter I6 is provided with a switch 900 which in the normal position of said lead counter is maintained closed. The total turn counter I1 is provided with a switch 30| which is normally maintained open. The total turn counter |1 is adapted to have set up in it the total number oi turns desired to be wound on the machine during a single operation while the lead counter I6 is adapted to have set up therein a predetermined number of turns less than that set up in the total turn counter. When the lead counter reaches the number set up therein, the switch 300 opens, and when the total turn vcounter reaches the number set up therein, the switch 30| closes.

The magnetic clutch 34-35 is adapted to be energized throughl its leads 36 connected to the output of a rectifier 302, by means of the contact 303 of a relay 304. The rectifier 302 is supplied with power through lines 305, 306 connected respectively to the control circuit lines 290, 29|. The energizing circuit for the actuating coil of the relay 304 extends from the line 290 through contact 308 of a, push button switch 009, microswitch 66 in its closed position, lead counter switch 300, the normally closed contact 9|0 of a push button switch 3H, actuating coil 30'! and conductor 3|2 to the motor feed line 281. When this circuit is completed, therelay 304 is actuated to energize the magnetic clutch 3&-35 so as to drive the machine at its normally high speed. For a purpose. to closed contact 308 oir the push button switch 303 has connected and parallel therewith a normally open contact 3|! of the push button switch 3| I.

The actuating circuit for the coil 65, which'disengages the drive clutch 05 and stops` the machine within a small fraction of a revolution, extends from the line 230, the contact 302i, the coil 54, conductor @Il and the switch 30| of the total turn counter to the other control circuit line 29|. Thus under normal conditions when the switch ssl closes, the coil B0 is actuated to disengage the drive clutch i5 and stop the rotationl of the machine.

In parallel with the coil 665 is connected the coil dit which as indicated in Fig. 2 is mounted on the counting mechanism to actuate a counter reset clutch SiS so as to connect the counter reset shaft to the counting mechanism for the purpose oi resetting the counters I6 and I1 to zero. The details of this arrangement are described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 536,190 referred to above.

For purposes to be described below s. normally open contact 3I1 on the push button switch 309 is connected in parallel with the total turn counter switch 30 I.

Operation closed on the outer ends of the side rods. The

winding wire 09 is led from the spool |03 over the various guide rollers, over the face of the lead-in plate H3, and a few turns thereof are wound by hand around the side rods 3 and 9. Assuming the switch 20| to have been closed, the threading of the windingwire I9 into position completes the circuit Ilz- |34 which causes the be described below the normally- 16 amplifier 291 to energize the relay 293 thus closing the contacts 292 so as to prepare the circuit for the relay 205. The machine' is now ready to start and the operator normally depresses the starting switch 295 thus completing the energizing circuit for the relay 205 which closes and starts the motor 21 in operation. The relay 235 establishes a lock-in circuit for its actuating coil 209 by way of a conductor 3I0 which establishes a by-pass circuit around the switch 295 back to the conductor 293. Thus the switch 29B may be released and the motor continues to rotate. Beiore the operation of the motor is initiated, the clutch I5 is in its disengaged position with the rod B8 in its outer position. Thus the rotation of the motor 21 will transmit its rotation only as far as the sprocket 40 and its cam 46. Also due to the fact that the rod 58 is in its outer position, the micro-switch 66 will have been moved to its open position thus interrupting the circuit for the actuating coil 301 of the relay 304 so that the magnetic clutch 34--35 is deenergized. During this preliminary operation, therefore, the motor 21 will drive the sprocket i0 and its cam 4S at the` initial low speed.

When the operator observes that the action is proceeding properly. the starting handle 11 is pushed inwardly yuntil the latch 60 engages the inner end of the'rod 58 and holds said rod in its operating position. This movement of the rod 00 causes the clutch 05 to be actuated so as to couple the drive shaft I8 to the sprocket 40. It will be noted that the actuation of the clutch 45 occurs at low speed thus avoiding any undue shock on the machine. The operation of the clutch 40 sets the driving plate 09 in rotation causing its cam projection 1| to force the rod 10 outwardly thus moving the micro-switch 9S into its closed position. Closing of the micro-switch 66 completes the energizing circuit for the coil 31 of the relay 304. Thus this relay closes the contacts B03 which energizes the magnetic clutch causing` the motor 21 to drive the machine at its normally high speed.

The drive shaft I9 rotates the arbor 22 between the cutter 99 and the swage |95 thus producing the cutting and swaging action already described. The drive shaft I8 also drives the jack shaftl |63 which in turn drives the cam shaft E59 thus controlling. the relationship between the swaged and the loose turns on the grid. The jack shaft |63 also drives the shaft 228 in Iche rear casing. causing the ring 2|1 to wind up the steel tape 2|3 thus' pulling the draw shaft |92 which in turn draws the side rods 8 and 9 away from the arbor 22as the winding wire 89 is wound thereon. The jack shaft also rotates the draw shaft |92 through the mechanism in the center casing |66 so as to avoid twisting ofthe side rods 8 and 9.

When the number of turns as predetermined by the setting of the lead counter I6 is reached, the contact 300 opens. This interrupts the circuit for the actuating coil 301 of the clutch relay 304 thus deenergizing the magnetic clutch 34-35. At this point, therefore, the motor 21 drives the machine at its low speed. The last few turns on the grid, therefore, will wind at this low speed until the total number of turns as predetermined by the setting of the total turn counter |1 has been reached. At this' point the switch 30| closes and energizes the circuit for the coil 66. The energization of the coil 64 releases the latch 60 and causes the spring 59 to move the rod 58, the link 51, and the stop rod 55 into position where the y shoulder 56 disengages the pawl I1 from the cam 4B which in turn causes the drive shaft to be locked in its stopped position by virtue of the one-way clutch arrangement noted that this stopping and locking action occurs at low speed which avoids any undue shock on the machine and permits accurate stoppage of said machine in exactly centered position. Such an arrangement makes for high accuracy in the winding of the grid.

At the same time that the coil 04 is energized, the coil 3|5 is energized causing the reset shaft 44 to reset the counter to zero preparatory to the next winding operation. When the resetting action starts, the switch 30| opens and shortly thereafter the switch 300 closes. However, this does not reenergize the relay 304 and cause the motor to drive the mechanism at high speed because the circuit for actuating coil 301 of said relay 304 is interrupted at the switch 66 which is maintained open until after the clutch 45 has been reengaged and the operation restarted on the next winding cycle as already described above.

Thereupon the operator cuts off the wound side rods 8 and 9 by the knives 248 and 249, releases the clamp |9| and removes the wound grids from the machine all as described above. Thereupon by depressing the foot lever 219, the draw shaft |92 is returned to its initial position preparatory to the start f the next winding cycle. Thereupon the operator may restart the cycle in the manner as'described above.

If for any reason during normal winding it is desired to cause the operation to proceed at low speed, the switch 3|| may be depressed. This causes the contact 3|0 to interrupt the circuit for the actuating coil 301 which thus opens the relay 304 and its contact 303. This in turn deenergizes the magnetic clutch 34-35 so that the operation proceeds at low speed. If the switch 3H is depressed to such an extent as to close the contact 3|3, no additional action occurs since the contact 3| 3 is normally contact 308 on the switch 309. If instead of depressing the switch 3H, the operator depresses the switch 309, the contact 308 will interrupt the circuit for the actuating coil 301 of the relay 303. This likewise causes the operation of the machine at low speed. If the switch 309 is depressed far enough to close the contacts 341 across the total turn counter switch 30|, stoppage of the machine due to energization of the coil 64 does not occur because the energizing circuit for said coil 84 has been interrupted at the contact 308.

Under some conditions the operator may desire to stop the rotation of the machine -before the total number of turns have been wound. For this purpose the operator rst depresses the switch 3| l so as to slow the machine down to its slow speed operation. Then, while keeping the switch 3|! depressed, the operator also depresses the switch I4-16. It Will beshort-circuited by the 18 This interrupts ,the holding circuit for the relay 285 which drops out and deenergizes the motor 21. As the motor 21 is coasting to a standstill, the circuit'for the actuating coil 301 of the relay 304 will have been interrupted between the conductors 283 and 281 so that any driving action of the motor during this period will be at slow speed. A similar stopping action occurs auto- 309. This causes the contact 3| 1 to by-pass the total turn counter switch 30| so that a circuit for the stopping coll 84 is established from the line 29| through the contact 3|1, the coil 64, and

the contact 3|3, to the line 290. Thus in order' to stop and lock the machine the operator must utilize both hands. Furthermore, the switches 309 and 3|| are placed suinciently far apart so as to prevent the operator from depressing both switches with one hand. This insures that the operator will rst slow the machine down beiore an attempt is made to stop and lock the machine in its centered position.

u If for some reason the operator wishes to stopA t e entire machine, the switch 2 94 depressed.

matically if the winding wire 89 should break since such breaking would cause the'relay 293 to drop out and interrupt the holding circuit for the relay 285 at the contacts 292. Even though the circuit for the motor is interrupted by the relay 285, it may still be desirable to actuate the coil 64 so Vas to-disengage the clutch 45. For this purpose the control circuit lines 290 and 29| are energized ahead of the contacts of the relay 285 so that actuation of said relay does not deenergize said control circuit.

If the counter switches do not stop the winding by the time the draw head 2|2 reaches the limit switch 245, this switch will open and likewise stop all further operation. This constitutes an additional safety feature.

mechanism adapted to wind and securea winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, and means for moving said feeding means along said machine, said last-named means comprising a flexible strip secured at one endl to said feeding means, winding means comprising a member having a simple circular peripheral surface upon which said strip is wound from its other end to produce said motion, said winding means being mounted on rotatable driving means and being readily detachable therefrom whereby any desired predetermined diameter winding means may be substituted readily in said machine.

2. In a grid-making machine, a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, and means for moving said feeding means along said machine, said last-named means comprising a flexible strip secured at one end to said feeding means, winding means comprising a member having a simple circular peripheral surface upon which said strip is wound from its other end to`produce said motion, said winding means being mounted on rotatable driving means, and constant speed power driving means connected` to said rotatable driving means through a change speed gearingdevice whereby said rotatable drivlng'means may be driven at predetermined increments of speed.

3. In a grid-making machine, a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, and means for moving said feeding means along said machine, said lastnamed means comprising a flexible strip secured at one end to said feeding means, winding means comprising a member having a simple circular peripheral surface upon which said strip is wound from its other end to produce said motion,

said winding means being mounted on rotatable driving means, and constant speed power driving means connected to said rotatable driving means through a change speed gearing device whereby said rotatable driving means may be driven at predetermined increments oi speed, said winding means being readily detachable from said rotatable driving means whereby any desired predetermined diameter oi' winding means may be substituted readily in said machine.

4. In a grid-making machine. a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, driving means for moving said feeding means forward along said machine, a flexible strip secured at one end to said feeding means, a weight connected to said strip at its opposite end whereby said weight tends to pull said feeding means back towards its initial position, clutch means interposed between said driving means and said feeding means, and means for releasing said clutch means whereby said weight automatically returns said feeding means to its initial position.

5. In a grid-making machine, a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, means for moving said feeding means along said machine, said last-named means comprising a flexible strip secured at one end to said feeding means, winding means comprising a member having a simple circular peripheral surface upon which said strip is wound from its other end to produce said motion, said winding means being mounted on rotatable driving means, power driving means connected to said rotatable driving means, a second flexible strip secured at one end to said feeding means, a weight connected to said second strip at its opposite end whereby said weight tends to pull said feeding means back towards its initial position, clutch means interposed between said power driving means and said rotatable driving means, and means for releasing said clutch means whereby said weight automatically returns said feeding means to its initial position.

6. In a grid-making machine, a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, driving means for moving said feeding means forward along said machine, power driving means for driving said grid-forming mechanism and said driving means, a clutch interposed between said power driving means and said grid-forming mechanism and said driving means, said power driving means normally operating at a relatively high speed during the gridforming operation, means responsive to the winding of a predetermined number of turns of said winding wire on said siderod for reducing the speed of said power driving means to a relatively low value, and means responsive to a higher predetermined number of said turns for disengaging said clutch and for locking said gridforming mechanism in a stationary position.

7. In a grid-making machine, a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, driving means for moving said feeding means forward along said machine, power driving means for driving said grid-forming mechanism and said driving means. a clutch interposed between said power driving means and said grid-forming mechanism and said driving means, said power driving means normally operating at a relatively high speed during the grid-forming operation, means responsive to the winding of a predetermined number of turns of said winding wire on said side rod for reducing the speed of said power driving means to a relatively low value, and means responsive to a higher predetermined number of said turns for diseneaging said clutch and for locking said grid-forming mechanism in a predetermined position of orientation.

8. In a gridmaking machine, a grid-forming mechanism adapted to wind and secure a winding wire around an elongated side rod wire, feeding means for advancing said side rod through said machine, driving means for moving said feeding means forward along said machine, biasing means tending to move said feeding means backward along said machine towards its initial position, clutch means interposed between said driving means and said feeding means, and means for releasing said clutch means whereby said biasing means automatically returns said feeding means to its initial position.

WILBUR L. SHEFFIEID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 293.178 Johnston Feb. 2, 1884 423.088 Sherman Mar. 11, 1890 561,579 Gare Mar. 11, 1896 1,113,779 Greenleaf Oct. 13, 1914 1,399,384 Heilman Dec. 6, 1921 1,464,505. Fumagalli et al. Aug. 14, 1923 1,583.530 De Lavaud May 4, 1926 1,585,905 Madden et al May 25, 1926 1,814,770 Schenk et al. July 14, 1931 1,874,575 Morick et al. Aug. 30, 1932 1,897,460 Anderson et al Feb. 14, 1933 1,942,069 Setoguchi et al. Jan. 2, 1934 1,970,599 Franke Aug. 21, 1934 1,994,307 Flaws, Jr. Mar. 12, 1935 2,096,605 Blount Oct. 19, 1937 2,181,288 Washburn Nov. 28, 1939 2,188,906 Lackey Feb. 6, 1940 2,247,713 Peterson et al. July 1, 1941 2,292,988 Bloomfield et al. Aug. 11, 1942 2,373,427 Stickney Apr. 10, 1945 

